Chapter Eight: Taking control of alcohol use The most recent information is showing national data indicating alcohol consumption per capita has gradually dropped in the United States since the early 1980’s. Alcohol still does remain the preferred form of drug use for most adults (including college students). There are many reasons why people choose to drink but regardless of these reasons, it still does alter brain chemistry by depressing the central nervous system, resulting in inhibitions(inner controls that prevent a person from engaging in certain types of behavior) being reduced which results in different versions of personalities coming out of check.